Jet-propelled missile



ay 6, 1958 H. E. ROMMEL JET-.PROPELLED MISSILE Filed Aug. 26, 1952 iii:35

2.4 36 F [5 5 F E 6 INVE OR.

JET-PROPELLED MISSILE Howard E. Rommel, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,451

Claims. (Cl. 102-34) This invention relates generally to apparatus forpro ducing relatively large volumes of gas by the combustion of arelatively slow-burning chemical compound. Some of the applications ofsuch apparatus include jet-propelled motors of the type adapted for usewith model airplanes, boats, automobiles, and other relatively lowpower-demanding apparatus, although the principles of the invention areequally applicable for uses other than propulsion as Will appearhereinafter.

In application Serial No. 267,328, filed January 21, 1952, in the nameof Howard E. Rommel, now abandoned, a jet-propelled fishing plug isdescribed and claimed which embodies the use of an apparatus to whichthe principles of the present invention are applicable. In thatapplication, the fuel employed in the jet-propelled missile comprises arelatively slow-burning, large quantity gasproducing compound such asguanidine nitrate. As disclosed in that application, a detonatable capis provided as a unitary part of the guanidine nitrate charge of fuelwhich is preferably set off by a hammer mechanism that is insertedthrough the orifice of the jet-propelled plug. Other prior known meansof igniting guanidine nitrate within jet-propelled missiles of theabove-described type comprise the employment of a coiled fuse memberthat is held against the guanidine nitrate within its combustionchamber, extending outwardly through the jet orifice, and to which aflame is applied for igniting the fuse.

While the means above-referred-to for igniting the slow-burning chemicalcompound proves satisfactory in some instances, there are manyapplications in which the manner of igniting the fuel requires a muchsimpler and more positive means.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a chamber adaptedto receive a charge of relatively slowburning chemical compound and incombination therewith, an igniting means for the fuel that is renderedeffective by a manipulation of the container or a part thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of an'orificedchamber providing a confined space for a chargeof slow-burning chemicalcompound having integrail therewith an ignitible compound that isadapted to be rendered effective by the manipulation of a part of thecontainer; the provision of such a mechanism in which the chamber isclosed by a cap member that is threaded to the one end of the chamber,and in which the tightening of the cap onto the container comprises themanipulation which renders effective the ignitible means integral withthe fuel charge; the provision of such an apparatus in' which thechemical compound is in the form of a compressed pellet having aquantity of match compound integrally united to the one end thereofwhich latter is adapted to be ignited by friction means renderedeffective by applying a cap member to the combustion chamber in closingthe same; the provision of a jet-propelled engine embodying a combustionchamber in which fuel of the above-referred-to type is adapted to beignited by a manipulation of a part of the engine without the necessityof employing a flame of any sort; the provision of a jet- 2,833,216Patented May 6, 1958 2 propelled fishing plug in which the jet orificesare arranged in equi-angular increments about the periphery of the plugand at the head end thereof; and the provision of a jet-propelledfishing plug of the above-referred-to type having a manipulatablechamber-closing means that is adapted to ignite a charge of fuel withinthe combustion chamber by the act of closing the open end of saidchamber.

The above, as well as other objects and novel features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following specification taken with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a'sectional view of a jet-propelled fishing plugembodying'the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the fishing plug of Fig. 1 takensubstantially along line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a modified showing of the fishing plug of Fig. 1 embodying theprinciples of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of a prepared charge of combustion material embodyingcertain principles of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a modification of the fuel charge shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is still another modification of the combustible fuel chargeembodying certain of the principles of the invention.

While the principles of the invention are applicable to various devicesrequiring the generation of relatively large volumes of gas atrelatively slow speeds, such as tear gas missiles, model airplanes,model automobiles, model boats, etc., the principles of the inventionwill be shown and described as applied to a jet-propelled fishing plugof the general type shown, described and claimed in theabove-referred-to application.

Referring to Fig. l, the plug is shown as comprising a body member 10 ofgenerally tubular form having a substantially spherical head portion 11and fin-like portions 12 through which jet orifices 13 extend from theexterior of the body 10 to the interior thereof in equi-angularly spacedrelationship as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Fish hook means 11' is shown asintegrally attached to the head portion 11, but such means may beattached at any suitable place on the body member 10. A frictionproviding means 14 is located internally of housing 10 for a purpose tobe described later. Although the means 14 may take any one of many formswhich will provide adequate friction, it is shown in the presentembodiment as an annular member fixed to said housing 10 and havingsharpened pins 15 protruding from the one surface thereof. The tubularmember 10 is closed at its trailing end by a cap-like member 16 that isshown screw-threaded to the tubular body 10. The cap member 16 alsoincludes within its head, friction providing means 17 which also may beof any form suitable to provide the desired friction and which, in thepresent embodiment, is shown as a plurality of sharpened pins integralwith the cap member 16. However, any other sort of attaching means maybe employed which requires relative rotation of the cap with respect tothe body 10 to effect such attachment.

A charge of a relatively slow-burning, large quantity gas-producingcompound 19 is adapted to be located within the body 10. Referring toFig. 5, the charge 19 is shown as comprising two pellets 20 and 21 ofgenerally cylindrical form which are adapted to fit within the housing10. Although the chemical composition may be of various types, it hasbeen found that guam'dine nitrate can be compressed into pellets whichwill produce the desired results. The abutting faces of the charges 20and 21 are adapted to contain friction ignitible material and frictionmeans. the charge 20 is provided with anannular deposit of matchcomposition 22. This match composition is Accordingly, one of the endfaces, of j ajssaa f6 '3 formed'as a water'sl'ur'ry which upc'indryingadequately adheres to the guanidine nitfa'te pellet surface. A similarannular shaped ring of friction 1naterial;23-is integrallyettache'd 'tothe one face of the'charg'eZl. -While the match composition 22 may be ofthe strike anywhere type,lit is preferably a'composition of safety,

match materia'l. Accordingly, the-striking material 23 must be the typeof 'friction material that will cause ignition 'of the safety matchmaterial 22 when relative movenie'ntbetween the two is effected and whenthey are in contact with each other.

In order to hold the charges 20 and 21 in proper relative positionwithout permitting inadvertent relative rotation between the two,preferably a piece of tearable combustible material 24 surrounds thecharges 20 and 21, overlapping the abutting end faces between which thematch composition and striking composition arelocate'd. The material 24can beof any tearable material provided with an adhesive, and it hasbeen found that Scotch tape provides the desired result. In operation,the charge 19 is located within the tubular housing 10. The cap member16 is then screwed onto the end of the housing and as it approachesclosed position, the pins 17 engage the outer end of the charge 19,forcing it inwardly until the pins engage and penetrate into the portion20 and the pins 17 penetrate into the portion 21. Further tightening ofcap 16 causes the tearable material 24 to rupture, whereupon the portion21 rotates relatively to the portion 20, thereby igniting the matchcomposition 22 and, consequently, the guanidine nitrate.

Referring to Fig. 3, the principles of the-invention are disclosed in aslightly modified form from that shown in Fig. 1. The device of Fig. 3comprises a tubular housing 25 and cap member 26 threaded to the one endthereof. The cap member 26 is provided with stabilizing fins 27 locatedat equi-angular points about the periphery of the cap 26. A jet orifice28 is provided centrally of the cap 26 for the exhaust of gasesgenerated within the housing 25. Referring to Fig. 7, the charge ofcombustible material 29 for the housing 25 is solid throughout. It isprovided with a conical recess 30 in its trailing end which recess isfilled with match composition of the same type that is employed for thecharge 19. A striking or scratching member 31 is provided which is ofsuch diameter as to freely pass through the orifice 28 so that the matchcomposition 30 can be ignited, whereupon the fuel 29 burns in the samemanner that the fuel 19 burns in the diclosure of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 6, still another modified form of the charge of fuelis shown. It comprises a portion 32 having at its one end an annulardeposit of match composition 33. A disc member 34 provided with matchstriking compound 35 is held in abutting relationship with the matchcomposition 33 by a ring of material 36 similar to the material 24. Itis obvious, of course, that the match material 33 may be on the disc 34,and the striking material 35 may be on the fuel compound 32. Thisspecies of the invention is adapted to be employed in the same manner asthe species disclosed in Fig. 5 and used in conjunction with thedisclosure of Fig. 1.

Should the match composition 22 and 33 be of the strike anywhere type,itwould be advisable from a safety 'standpointto provide a compressibleelement between the portions 20, 21 and 32, 34 within the annulardeposits of match and striking compositions in a manner to maintain suchcompositions slightly separated during handling.

While various features of the improved combustion chamber and fueltherefor have been shown and described in detail to fully discloseseveral embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that numerouschanges may be made in such-details, 'and certain features can be usedwithout others without departing from the principles of the invention.

1. Apparatus comprising in combination, a housing member defining achamber; means adapted to be rotated relatively to said chamber toeffect closing of said chamher; a combustible fuel in said chamberincluding a plurality of relatively rotatable portions and adaptedduring her to the atmosphere and adapted to exhaust the gas ing membercomprising two solidified pellets of relatively generated by thecombustion of said fuel.

2. A jet-propelled missile comprising in combination, a housing memberhaving a closed head portion; a cap member adapted to close the end ofsaid housingmembersopposite said head portion thereby forming acombustion chamber within said housingmember; a plurality of jetpassages Within said head portion and spaced at equal angular intervalsthereabout; a pellet of relatively slowburning material within saidcombustion chamber, said pellet including a plurality of portionsadapted to be rotated relatively to each other; means connected to saidhousing member and said cap member and extending into said combustionchamber for providing relative rotation between said portions of saidpellet when said cap member is attached to said housing member; andfriction ignitible material between two adjacent surfaces of saidplurality of portions adapted to be ignited by the relative.

rotation of said adjacent portions when said cap member is attached tosaid housing member.

3. A charge of relatively slow-burning material in pellet formcomprising, two portions; one of said portions having integral therewitha quantity of friction ignitible material; friction material integralwith said other portion; said portions being in end to end relationsuchthat the friction ignitible material and friction'ma terial abut;and means for holding said portions in fixed position relatively to eachother comprising a relatively easily torn material.

4. A charge of combustible material for a gas-producslow-burningchemical composition; one end of one of said pellets having a quantityof friction ignitible material integral therewith; one end of the otherof said pellets being provided with a quantity of friction materialintegral therewith; and tearable means holding said pellets againstrelative rotation in end to end relation such that the frictionignitible material and the friction material are substantially incontact with each other.

5. A gas-producing apparatus comprising in combination, a housing havingits one end closed and its other end open, forming a chamber within itswalls and adapted to receive pellet means of non-deflagrating materialcapable of evolving a relatively large quantity of gas when ignited,said pellet means comprising at least two parts capable of relativemovement and provided with friction ignitible material there'oetween;means within'said chamber for preventing movement of one of said partsof said pellet means; a closure for said chamber; a jet orifice incommunication with said chamber and opening into the atmosphere; andmeans connected to said closure member adapted to cooperate with one ofthe parts ofsaid pellet means to effect relative motion between the twoparts, to thereby frictionally ignite said ignitible material when saidclosure member is applied to said housing 'to effect closing of its.open end.

(References-on following page) V References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hunt Oct. 9, 1866 Howard June 20, 1899Young June 9, 1931 Mills May 17, 1932 McEwen Nov. 2, 1937 Hickman Apr.27, 1948 Skinner Apr. 27, 1948 Sweden Aug. 27, 1946

